FEAR OF TERRORISM HELPS THE NORTH SEA TOURISM

The German resorts on the North Sea coast and the East Frisian islands are well booked for the coming summer season. Endless sandy beaches, picturesque lakes, and fresh fish – the region is more popular than ever with holidaymakers. The reason is simple – fear of terrorism.

The fear of terrorist attacks as well as the uncertain political situation are the motives for many tourists to avoid the southern Europe and the classic holiday destinations such as Turkey or Egypt.

In the first 3 months of this year there has been an increase of almost 20 per cent in overnight stays in the North Sea facilities, stated Carolin Wulke from the North Sea Tourism Association. According to her, the reasons are the good winter deals and the political tensions.

The coast is now immensely popular especially among domestic tourists. "Some people simply would not fly at all remembering the attacks on the Brussels Airport," said Wulke.

The German Travel Association confirmed this trend. The amount of German travelers who booked their holiday in Turkey or Egypt went down considerably compared to the last year data. According to the association, some Germans choose Spain and Portugal, other go right to the coast in Lower Saxony. Both organizations agree that 2016 will be a record year for the North Sea tourism.